Provision of text messages to emergency call takers

Abstract

Concurrent text and voice communications can be maintained with an emergency call taker. An application executing on a mobile communications device in conjunction with a network gateway provide voice communication as well as an interactive Short Messaging System (SMS) session with a public safety answering point (PSAP). The gateway correlates and manages SMS messages with the PSAP and the mobile device. As such, a virtual session is generated over a traffic channel, that provides the advantages of a voice call as well as allowing text based communications.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
 initiating a text based session between a device and public safety answering point (PSAP) equipment; 
 responsive to initiating the text based session, establishing a voice call, wherein:
 an intended recipient of the voice call is the PSAP equipment; 
 the voice call comprises an audio indication that a first text message is forthcoming; 
 
 receiving, via a traffic channel, a second text message comprising an indication that a text session has been established between the device and the PSAP equipment, wherein the received second text message is received from an intermediate entity other than the PSAP equipment; 
 responsive to receiving the second text message, providing the first text message, wherein:
 an intended recipient of the first text message is the PSAP equipment via the intermediate entity; and 
 the voice call and the text session are concurrently active. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the audio indication further comprises an indication that the first text message pertains to an emergency. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the audio indication comprises a prerecorded message. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , the text based session is initiated based on a user profile. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate entity comprises a network entity. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate entity comprises a network gateway. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate entity comprises a short message service center. 
     
     
       8. A computer readable storage medium that is not a signal comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
 initiating a text based session between a device and public safety answering point (PSAP) equipment; 
 responsive to initiating the text based session, establishing a voice call, wherein:
 an intended recipient of the voice call is the PSAP equipment; 
 the voice call comprises an audio indication that a first text message is forthcoming; 
 
 receiving, via a traffic channel, a second text message comprising an indication that a text session has been established between the device and the PSAP equipment, wherein the received second text message is received from an intermediate entity other than the PSAP equipment; 
 responsive to receiving the second text message, providing the first text message, wherein:
 an intended recipient of the first text message is the PSAP equipment via the intermediate entity; and 
 the voice call and the text session are concurrently active. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the audio indication further comprises an indication that the first text message pertains to an emergency. 
     
     
       10. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the audio indication comprises a prerecorded message. 
     
     
       11. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , the text based session is initiated based on a user profile. 
     
     
       12. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the intermediate entity comprises a network entity. 
     
     
       13. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the intermediate entity comprises a network gateway. 
     
     
       14. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the intermediate entity comprises a short message service center. 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 initiating a text based session between a device and public safety answering point (PSAP) equipment; 
 responsive to initiating the text based session, establishing a voice call, wherein:
 an intended recipient of the voice call is the PSAP equipment; 
 the voice call comprises an audio indication that a first text message is forthcoming; 
 
 receiving, via a traffic channel, a second text message comprising an indication that a text session has been established between the device and the PSAP equipment, wherein the received second text message is received from an intermediate entity other than the PSAP equipment; 
 responsive to receiving the second text message, providing the first text message, wherein:
 an intended recipient of the first text message is the PSAP equipment via the intermediate entity; and 
 the voice call and the text session are concurrently active. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the audio indication further comprises an indication that the first text message pertains to an emergency. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the audio indication comprises a prerecorded message. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , the text based session is initiated based on a user profile. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate entity comprises a network entity. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate entity comprises a network gateway.